Montgomery County Republican committee members to vote on new chairperson

NORRISTOWN — Seven-hundred-and-fify to 775 Montgomery County Republican committee members will vote on Wednesday night in what is expected to result in State Representative Mike Vereb (R-150th) winning the seat as the face of the party in the county.

According to John Kelemen, the Executive Director of the Montgomery County Republican Party, Vereb is the only name on the ballot.

Normally, when committee members enter the meeting, they would be given a paper ballot and vote at the appropriate time. However, Kelemen says since Vereb is the only candidate they will just go to a voice ballot.

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“I would anticipate that if there is only one candidate we’ll dispense with the paper vote and do a voice vote,” he said.

If Vereb is elected he will serve until the gubernatorial race in 2014.

“Our bylaws require that we reorganize after the primary election in gubernatorial electoral years,” Kelemen said on Monday.

The chairperson of the party serves as the face of the party in the county. If Vereb is elected, he will lead a group of roughly 775 elected officials across Montgomery County. He will be responsible for identifying state-wide and local candidates for endorsement.

Vereb said if he is gracious enough to be appointed as the party’s chairman in Montgomery County he will have quite a bit of work to do even with a recent event showcasing the party coming together.

“We all have great challenges ahead,” Vereb said Monday afternoon. “We have to realize that the enemies are not our fellow Republicans.”

Vereb said if appointed everyone who has ideas will be welcomed to share them.

“My success will be engaging all of the people and pulling resources and getting boots back on the ground,” Vereb said. “My plans will be an inclusive approach and to entertain ideas and thoughts from everyone willing to get involved.”

The early election comes after a scandal involving former chairman Robert Kerns. Kerns, who was arrested last Tuesday on a number of charges including rape, stepped down as the chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party on Nov. 14. Kerns was arrested last Tuesday for allegedly raping a former staff member.